“I am transferring it all to you.”

I took a step backward, my heel catching on a loose floorboard.

“I don’t want your money,” I said.

“You need it,” Marcus said.

“You are carrying my child.”

“A child cannot live in hiding forever.”

“This money will buy you a new name, a new life, and enough security to keep my world from ever touching you.”

He took a heavy silver pen from his pocket and laid it on top of the documents.

“The papers are already signed by my attorneys,” Marcus said.

“They only need your signature.”

“The moment you sign, the digital registry will update.”

“The assets will belong to you, entirely separate from the Vale name.”

I looked at the silver pen.

It caught the light from the dusty window, shining against the dark wood of the table.

“Why would you do this?” I asked.

“You love control more than anything.”

“This is control,” Marcus said softly.

“It is controlling the future of my legacy.”

“I want my child to have a name that does not smell of gasoline and iron.”